Automatic electric circuit breaker



S. E. HEDEN AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Feb. 25, 1935 July 14, 1936.

S COTT E HEDEN INVENTOR' AW QQ wj/i/L/ fix RWY Patented July 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BREAKER 3 Claims.

My invention relates to circuit breakers and has for its primary purpose and object the auto matic breaking of the electric circuit of a motor vehicle when accidents occur.

The invention is comprised primarily of a housing having electric terminals disposed therein, one of which is fixed relative to the housing and the other one of which is tiltable relative to the housing. The tiltable terminal is secured to a fluid holding container in which a metallic fluid as mercury is disposed. The two terminals are spaced apart and so long as the legs of the electric terminals are immersed within the mercury electric current will flow therethrough.

In the event of an accident the electric circuit is broken automatically and in the event that the container is tilted sufficiently the mercury will flow from the spaced electric terminals to simultaneously break the electric circuit, a react- 20 ance means is associated with the tiltable mercury holder to thereby return the holder to its normal position of rest when the other one of the terminals is raised sufliciently to permit its return to normal position.

The primary purpose and object of my invention is to provide means for automatically breaking the electric circuit of the motor vehicle when an accident occurs.

A further object of my invention consists in 30 so constructing the device that it may be returned to normal closed circuit position by the pulling of a lever disposed conveniently to the driver.

A further object of my invention consists of a 35 simply constructed device that is placeable in an automotive vehicle that will lessen the fire hazard in case of accident.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of 40 construction and combination of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims, and a preferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter shown with reference to the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional side view of a motor vehicle upon which one of my new and improved circuit breakers is disposed.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side View of the automotive circuit breaker shown removed from the motor vehicle.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical layout of the circuit illustrating the circuit breaker disposed within the assembly of a motor vehicle.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

I have here shown my device as being directly secured to the cowl I of a motor vehicle 2. The device is comprised primarily of a suitable hous- "5' ing 3. The housing 3 has a base bracket 4 disposed upon one of its sides to facilitate its being removably secured to the cowl. A lid 5 is removably secured to the housing 3. The purpose of the lid is to protect the contents of the housing and to act as a support for a bell crank 6 that is rotatably secured about a shaft I. The shaft I is positioned and held in place by suitable ears 8 that upwardly extend from the top of the lid 5.

A pull rod 9 has the end I9 hingedly secured to one arm to the bell crank 6. The pull rod 9 passes through the dash I I of the vehicle and terminates in a pull knob I2. A holder I3, preferably made of insulating material, is disposed within the housing 3 and the holder I3 is normally held central of and in an upright position within the housing 3 by a reactance element as a coil spring I4. The coil spring is secured upon its one end to a base plate I5 and its oppositely disposed end is secured to a pin I6 that is disposed through the holder I3. The holder I3 has a well I! that is normally filled with a metallic fluid, as mercury. A closure I9 made of insulating material is secured to the open end of the holder I3. A metallic leg 20 is secured to and extends through the closure I9 and has an electric terminal 2| disposed upon the end outside of. the closure. The oppositely disposed end of the leg 20 extends into the well I1 and is normally immersed in the mercury disposed in the well. A second leg 22 passes centrally through the closure I9 and a relatively long sleeve 23 is disposed upon the inside of the closure I9 through which the stem 22 passes. The inner end of the stem 22 also extends into the well I1 and is normally immersed in the mercury disposed within the well. The legs 20 and 22 are normally spaced apart to form a gap across which electric current of normal voltage will not arc. The head 24 of the leg 22 normally rests upon the positioning collar 25 that is disposed upon the closure I 9 and the outer end of the head 24 is rounded as illustrated at 26. An electric conductor 21 is normally in contact With the rounded end 26 of the leg 22 and the conductor is secured within a pair of insulating 5 discs 28 and 29. The disc 29 is supported by a spring support 30 that is secured to a support 3|. The support 3| is secured to the housing 3 and its free end 3IA acts as a stop to limit the downward movement of the contact head assembly when the leg 22 is removed from contact with the head assembly. Electricity is conducted to the contact head by any suitable conductor 32 and when the ignition or light switch is closed mercury is disposed within the well ll and the conductor 21 is in contact with the head 26 and the leg 22 electric current will flow through the assembly. Conductor 32 is connected to the switches and conductor 33 connects between the hot side of the starting motor and the legs 28.

If for any reason a sudden stoppage of the vehicle upon which the assembly is mounted occurs the momentum disconnects the head 26 from the conductor 21 and since the disc 29 is a non-conductor of electricity the electric circuit will be broken. The spring 36 will force the contact head assembly downward and the head 26 will then engage the outer wall 34 of the disc 29 in which position it will remain until reset.

When the violent stoppage occurs the container l3 will be tilted and the spring l4 will have a tendency to return the container into normal position with the base 35 of the container resting directly upon the inner surface of the base 36 of the housing. When it is desired to reset the device so that the automobile may be started again, longitudinal movement is imparted to the pull rod 9 which imparts a rocking movement to the bell crank 6. A link 37! connects the bell crank 6 with the disc 28 so that manipulation of the pull rod 9 will raise the contact head assembly to which the cable 32 is secured thus permitting the spring M to return the container E3 to its normal position. The release of the pulling pressure from the pull rod 53 engages the conductor 21 with the rounded end 26 of the head 24.

If the vehicle has been turned on its side or turned over the mercury flows from the well H and the electric circuit would be broken until the mercury again returns to the well ii.

In the diagrammatical layout illustrated in Fig. 3 the battery is illustrated at 38 and this may be the source of supply of electric energy. An electric conductor 39 connects the battery with the starting motor 43 and conductor 33 connects the hot side or" the starting motor with the terminal 2| of leg 29. The electric conductor 32 connects the terminal ii of the contact head assembly with the light and ignition switches and with the ammeter 52.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a ported diaphragm A that extends transversely of the side walls 45 and 4(5 of the holder IS. The diaphragm 44 is spaced above the well H and through the diaphragm metallic leg 2% and stem 22 pass. The diaphragm serves as a stabilizer for the two terminals 2B and 22 and maintains the same in spaced relation with each other and prevents the undue splashing of the metallic fluid disposed within the same. A free return of the metallic fluid to the well is permitted by placing ports 41 and 48 within the diaphragm.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the embodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What I claim is:

1. An electric circuit breaker comprising a housing, a non-conducting holder tiltably mounted within the housing, resilient means for maintaining the holder normally in upright position, a mercury holding Well disposed within the base of the holder, a closure removably secured to the holder and also made of insulating material, a pair of metallic legs secured to and extending through the closure into the well, said leg having an electric terminal on its outer end, a spring supporting member secured to the housing, a cap secured to the free end of the spring supporting member, said cap being made of insulating material and having an electric conductor disposed centrally therethrough and being normally in contact with the outer end of the stem that extends into the well, a lid secured to the housing, and manipulative means for causing the stem to be re-engaged with the insulating cap and conductor after it has been disengaged.

2. An electric circuit breaker comprising a housing, a lid removably secured to the housing, a holder made of insulating material and disposed within the housing said holder having a well disposed within its base that is partly filled with mercury, resilient means for maintaining the holder positioned longitudinally of the housing, a closure for the holder, said closure being made of electric insulating material and a pair of electrodes secured to and passing through the closure, the inner ends of which are normally immersed within the mercury disposed within the well of the holder, an electric terminal resiliently supported by the housing and in normal engagement with one of the electrodes and remotely controlled means for re-engaging the resiliently supported terminal and the associated electrode after they have become disengaged.

3. A circuit breaker comprising an outer casing and an inner casing, a pair of electrodes disposed within the inner casing and spaced apart,

fluid means within the inner casing for conduction of electric current between the electrodes, a contact head adapted to effect contact with one of the electrodes, resilient means for maintaining the contact head in engagement with the electrode, flexible means for normally supporting the inner container in longitudinal alignment with respect to the outer container and manipulative means for eifecting contact between the contact head and the electrode after the contact has once been broken.

SCOTT E. HEDEN. 

